Air Service and the Economy: In Our Quest for Perfect Aviation Security Are We Doing the Terrorists' Job for Them?

This article (Paragraph No. 5201) asks: Are some of the measures taken in response to the September 11 attacks against the U.S. helping to achieve the terrorists' goal of damaging our economy? The author argues that the nation should be sensitive to the negative economic impact of the cost, time, and uncertainty associated with new airport security measures. The consequences of a degraded air transport system are very real and seem to be little understood. The author reminds us that, over the past 40 years, the jet airliner has enabled an increasingly free 'global market.' In the author's words, "air travel is a means, not an end, and thus provides a tremendous economic multiplier." However, increased travel cost and journey time will harm the world's cutting edge economy. "Isn't that what the current wave of terrorism wants to do, to hurt the United States and the progress it inspires?" he asks. Self-inflicted harm to air transportation won't take us back to the Stone Age but it can blunt our economic cutting edge. Most of the post-September 11th economic damage seems to be coming from our reaction to the current wave of terrorism, not from the terrorists themselves. According to the author, three security actions would pay off handsomely for the air traveler: The adoption of a nationwide ten-minute standard for clearing through airport security checkpoints; resisting the temptation to pass the added security costs on to airlines, airports, shippers, or passengers; and keeping general aviation free from onerous procedures. While the author argues that we use our capabilities to achieve the highest possible transportation security, he admonishes us to apply our best thinking rather than "blindly follow goals set by Congress as a result of the voters' emotional instincts immediately following September 11th."

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Title of abstract is: Air Service and the Economy: Are We doing the Terrorists' Job for Them?
  • Corporate Authors:

    International Aviation Law Institute

    DePaul University College of Law, 25 E Jackson Boulevard
    Chicago, IL  United States  60604
  • Authors:
    • Schefer, Leo J
  • Publication Date: 2004

Language

  • English

Media Info

  • Media Type: Print
  • Edition: Transfer Binder 1: 2001 to 2004
  • Pagination: pp 1251-1265
  • Monograph Title: Issues in Aviation Law and Policy

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 01149573
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jan 29 2010 12:03PM